THE new head of the Guernsey Civil Service is set to pocket the same £200,000 yearly salary as the UK’s Cabinet Secretary.
Boley Smillie, formerly the CEO of Guernsey Post, is set to start as chief executive of the Guernsey Civil Service early next year, taking over from previous holder Mark de Garis, who has held the post since 2022.
The senior civil service position comes with an astoundingly high six-figure salary which will see Boley earn a wage equivalent to that of the most senior civil servant in the country.
Current Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, based in the Cabinet Office, is responsible for approximately 600,000 civil servants across the UK in comparison to the relatively meagre 5,500 that Boley will oversee – but will take home the same pay.
Brits have been left baffled by the post’s compensation with many pointing out the responsibilities of the role do not align with the salary.
The Cabinet Secretary acts as the Prime Minister’s most senior policy officer, with the responsibilities of the role weighing heavy.
Former Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donell recently called for a rise in salary for the position, calling it “massively underpaid”.
By comparison the new senior executive of the Guernsey Civil Service is responsible for 5,500 civil servants on the 24 sq mi island.
Boley Smillie will take home £12,485 every month after paying a flat tax rate of just 20% on his earnings.
Guernsey tax rates differ from the rest of the UK, with the Channel Islands isle having a flat rate for all residents of just 20% after allowances.
This will make Boley’s take home pay after tax £2,881 weekly which equates to an hourly rate of £82.32.
This will make Boley possibly the most well-paid civil servant in Britain with his monthly after-tax take-home far surpassing that of the Cabinet Secretary’s comparatively small £9,815.
The role even offers relocation assistance including a £5,000 grant and £50 per week for up to six months for the storage of furniture while house-hunting.
Additional relocation allowances of up to £260 per week for four years towards rent and a house purchase grant of £8,750 to help to buy within two years of taking up the role will also be offered.
A post comparing the two roles’ responsibilities and compensations was made to social media on Friday with the caption: “Why be Cabinet Secretary when you can be head of the Guernsey Civil Service for the same salary.
“The Head of the Guernsey Civil Service was recently recruited, with a salary of £200,000 in order to attract the right level of professional.
“It makes you realise just how out of touch the UK Civil Service wages are, especially at the top.
“Cab Sec is responsible for nearly 600,000 civil servants, the Guernsey Cab Sec just 5,500.
“Why would anyone seriously go for the Cab Sec position when you could have a far easier life managing an island?”
The post has since received over 200 likes and more than 40 comments from stunned social media users.
One user wrote: “You don’t even have to leave the public sector or wait for the Guernsey job to come up. Plenty of council CEOs on £200k.”
Another added: “As popular as it may be, senior civil servants as well as MPs should get paid a hell of a lot more so we can actually attract quality people for the roles, rather than weird posh people doing it for the prestige.”
A third replied: “It’s very civil service to think the number of people under you determines your pay.”
Another commented: “The drawback is having to live in Guernsey.”
A fifth said: “The money made isn’t from salary. Your set up for life once you’ve bunged a few large contracts to a private supplier, then retire to their board.”
